November 21, 2022
Spending time with family and friends at Thanksgiving remains important for many Americans, and this year the cost of the meal is also top of mind.
Farm Bureau’s 37th annual survey provides a snapshot of the average cost of this year’s classic Thanksgiving feast for 10, which is $64.05 or less than $6.50 per person. This is a $10.74 or 20 percent increase from last year’s average of $53.31.
The…
November 21, 2022
Hannah Fick, a 2021 graduate of Hills-Beaver Creek High School, received her American Degree, the highest award given to FFA members, at the 2022 National FFA Convention recently in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Fick was joined by current H-BC FFA Chapter members Gus Jacobson, John Tiler, Sylvia Fick, Tyrae Goodface and Alexis Gardner-Swenson. The students attended various convention sessions, career…
By Kent Thiesse, Farm Management Analyst
November 21, 2022
Many farm operators provide some type of custom work or use of farm machinery to other farmers during the growing season, and payment is usually made following the completion of the harvest season. Sometimes, it can be difficult to arrive at a fair custom rate for the certain farming practices, or for the use of various pieces of machinery. This could be the case in a year such as 2022, when the…
November 21, 2022
A $4,000 Compeer Financial Emergency Response Equipment grant was presented to the Hills Area Fire Department recently. “The grant funds were used to purchase ten new pagers for our firefighters,” said fire chief Jared Rozeboom (center) with Neil Hansen (left) and Scott Gunderman with Compeer Worthington. The grants are part of the farm credit cooperative’s giving program, “Fund for Rural America…
November 21, 2022
Jen Luitjens (second from left) poses with the $5,000 check she received as the Scotty McIntyre “Go Beyond” award recipient. The award was presented by United Fire Group regional representative Tom Diefendorf (far right). Luitjens, a member of the Hardwick Fire Department, donated the check to the department for new equipment. Sharing in the surprise announcement are Hardwick Fire Department…
November 21, 2022
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced plans for additional emergency relief and pandemic assistance from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). USDA is preparing to roll out the Emergency Relief Program (ERP) Phase Two as well as the new Pandemic Assistance Revenue Program (PARP), which are two programs to help offset crop and revenue losses for producers.
USDA is sharing early…
November 21, 2022
For those hunting for holiday gift ideas, consider giving someone the opportunity for a lifetime of outdoor adventures.
People can purchase a lifetime hunting or fishing license for themselves or as a gift for someone else.
More information is available on the DNR website about licenses for Minnesota residents (mndnr.gov/Licenses/Lifetime/Residents) and non-residents (mndnr.gov/Licenses/Lifetime/…
By Mavis Fodness
November 21, 2022
Rock County 4-H’ers were recognized for their year’s achievements at the annual year-end awards banquet Saturday, Nov. 5, at Generation Events in Luverne.
The potluck event, “Color Your Life with 4-H” was attended by 100 4-H’ers, parents, leaders and sponsors.
Federation officers
The evening began with the installation of Federation officers.
Installed as officers were president Lanae Elbers,…
By Lori Sorenson
November 15, 2022
Luverne leaders are forging ahead with a $6.4 million plan to convert former office space into a child care center.
Costs are daunting and smaller models struggle with earning a profit, but research shows the long-term community benefits are well worth the investment.
“By having a facility that can provide quality early care education to your youngest residents, it’s going to relieve burdens…
November 15, 2022
About two dozen local veterans attended the Veterans Day program Friday at Hills-Beaver Creek Secondary School, where they were treated as “everyday heroes.”
“I wanted the public to notice that veterans are everyday people — high school students, young adults, janitors, volunteers, business people,” said Randi Oftedahl, middle school teacher at H-BC.
The student-led ceremony featured four high…
By Mavis Fodness
November 15, 2022
A third-grade teacher at Luverne Elementary was chosen by her peers as the 2023 Luverne Education Association Teacher of the Year.
Pam Christensen began teaching full time at Luverne Elementary in 2000. She’s spent all but one year teaching third-graders.
The annual announcement took place Monday in the Luverne Middle-High School commons and kicked off American Education Week.
“This week we…
By Mavis Fodness
November 15, 2022
The custodial staff members at Luverne Public Schools say they are only doing their jobs, but the Luverne Education Association said they go above and beyond normal duties in their support of public education.
The 14 full- and part-time custodians were selected as the 2023 LEA Friends of Education Monday afternoon at an ice cream social to kick off American Education Week at Luverne schools.
“…
By Lori Sorenson
November 15, 2022
The Luverne Country Club opened Bogey’s Bar and Grill this fall with a variety of food and drink options, plus bar and patio seating available.
Manager Lisa Remme hosted a Luverne Chamber gathering Thursday morning, when she explained food and entertainment options.
“We just added a kids’ menu, and we keep adding new things to the menu as people suggest things to us,” she told a room full of…
By Lori Sorenson
November 15, 2022
Rock County voter turnout in the 2022 general election was nearly 75 percent, according to local election official Ashley Kurtz.
Of Rock County’s 5,582 registered voters, 4,163 participated in the midterm (non-presidential) election.
That turnout is high compared with Minnesota’s 60.66 percent turnout and the national turnout of just under 50 percent. However, Kurtz said 2022’s local…
November 15, 2022
… there’s smoke testing of sewer lines underneath Highway 75. The work is part of the infrastructure project that closed six blocks of the main corridor north of Main Street in Luverne from Oct. 17 for a month. Smoke testing identifies sections of the sanitary sewer system that may have defects such as cracks, leaks or faulty connections that allow rainwater to enter the underground pipe network…
November 15, 2022
Luverne Elementary students hosted a Veterans Day Coffee & Treats Open House Friday morning for local veterans. The two-hour event in the school commons was hosted by the fifth-graders and organized by the school’s elementary student council. Local veterans and their families were invited to sit at tables with students who had lists of questions for the guests. Students in other grades…